Walter J. Brand

Walter J. Brand heads the Employment and Labor Practice Group at Watkins & Eager, where he has counseled and defended employers for more than 30 years.  Walter approaches his practice with the view that successful defense of employment claims begins long before a lawsuit is filed and turns upon several separate processes: fair, accurate, and documented handling of personnel actions based on updated employer policies; cogent explanation of employer action before administrative agencies that is consistent with documented employer business decisions; and nuanced discovery, evidentiary, and legal strategies designed to efficiently position cases for successful resolution by motion or trial.

Walter represents employers across numerous economic sectors, including the automotive, poultry processing, propane, banking, financial, physician, hospital, and medical service industries. He is rated AV by Martindale Hubbell and is consistently recognized in the area of employment litigation defense in Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, and Super Lawyers.  He is a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and a Member of the American Employment Law Council, and regularly serves as an instructor and contributing author on human resources administration and employment litigation topics before legal education and industry audiences.

Representative Cases

Bush v. Brandon, et al.---Case No. 24-60319 (5th Cir. 2025).

Douglas v. Nissan North America, Inc., et al.---Civil Action No. 3:24-cv-157-CWR-ASH (S.D. Miss. Mar. 31, 2025).

Bush v. Brandon, et al.---Civil Action No. 4:23-cv-147-SA-JMV (N.D. Miss. May 29, 2024).

Hardy v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:19-cv-838-TSL-RPM (S.D. Miss. September 16, 2021).

Martin v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:19-CV-925-DPK-FKB (S.D. Miss. August 12, 2021).

Patterson v. Merchants & Marine Bank, Civil Action No. 2018-00, 163(1) (Circuit Court of Jackson County, MS August 5, 2021).

Lenoir/Blake v. Nissan North America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 3:18-CV-607-CWR-LGI (S.D. Miss. Jan. 7, 2021).

Coleman, et al. v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:19-cv-00533-CWR-FKB (S.D. Miss. October 16, 2020).

Tingle v. Merchants & Marine Bank, 2020 WL 3053392 (5^th Cir. June 30, 2020).

McIntyre v. Calsonic Kansei North America, Inc. and Nissan North America, Inc., 2020 WL 3402047 (5^th Cir. June 22, 2020).

Phillips v. Nissan North America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 3:17-CV-682-CWR-LRA (S.D. Miss. March 23, 2020).

Jefferson v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:18-CV-565-DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. Feb. 10, 2020).

Tingle v. Merchants & Marine Bank, Civil Action No. 1:18-CV-149-HSO-JCG (S.D. Miss. Dec. 14, 2019).

Delaney v. Minact Logistical Services, LLC, Civil Action No. 3:18-CV-587-HTW-LRA (S.D. Miss. Oct. 24, 2019).

McIntyre v. Calsonic Kansei North America, Inc. and Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:16-CV-886-HTW-LRA (S.D. Miss. March 29, 2019).

Taylor v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:16-CV-821-DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. Feb. 6, 2019).

Dobson v. Nissan North America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 25CI1:18-CV-00068-JE (Circuit Court of Madison County Dec. 10, 2018).

Edwards v. Nissan North America, Inc. – Civil Action No. 3:17-CV-908-LG-LRA (S.D. Miss. June 20, 2018).

Bates v. Sanderson Farms, Inc. – Civil Action No. 5:17-CV-80-DCB-MTP (S.D. Miss. May 23, 2018).

Pace v. Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division; Civil Action No. 3:17-CV-00009-CWR-LRA (March 7, 2018).

Dobson v. Minact Logistical Services and Nissan North America, Inc. – Civil Action No. 3:17-CV-406-CWR-LRA (S.D. Miss. Nov. 13, 2017).

Windham v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., 2016-153 C-2 (Covington Cnty. Cir. Ct. Oct. 31, 2017).

Johnson v. Sanderson Farms, Inc.; In the Circuit Court of Pike County, Mississippi; Civil Action No. 16-186-PCS (Oct. 16, 2017).

Avery v. Nissan North America, Inc.; United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division; Civil Action No. 3:15-CV-890-HTW-LRA (Sept. 22, 2017).

Johnson v. Sanderson Farms, Inc.; United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Western Division; Civil Action No. 5:16-CV-35-DCB-MTP (May 26, 2017).

Carr v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., Civil Action No. 14-2488 Section "N" (3) (E.D. La. March 15, 2016).

Gibbs v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:14cv650-DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. March 2016).

Davenport v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:14cv671-CWR-LRA (S.D. Miss. Oct. 22, 2015).

Garcia v. Tyson Foods, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:12-CV-597-CWR-FKB (S.D. Miss. Sept. 8, 2014).

Johnson v. Nissan North America, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:13-CV-349-LG-JMR (S.D. Miss. June 2, 2014).

Simpson v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., 744 F.3d 702 (11th Cir. 2014).

Taylor v. First Tower Loan, LLC, et al., No. 3:13-CV-210-NBB-SAA (N.D. Miss. Dec. 3, 2013).

Jones v. Tower Loan of Mississippi, LLC, No. 3:12-CV-753 DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. Oct. 23, 2013).

Moore v. Nissan North America, Inc., 2012 WL 2608792 (S.D. Miss. July 5, 2012).

Cannon v. Mississippi Dep't of Employment Sec., et al., 2012 WL 2685089 (S.D. Miss. July 6, 2012).

Phillips v. Nissan North America, Inc., 2012 WL 2254274 (S.D. Miss. June 14, 2012).

Reichle v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, Nos. 3:11-CV-174-DPJ-FKB and 3:11-CV-232-DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. March 16, 2012).

Williams v. Tyson Foods, Inc., No. 3:11-CV-67- DPJ-FKB (S.D. Miss. Dec. 16, 2011).

Newman v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., 2011 WL 5511707 (S.D. Miss. Nov. 10, 2011).

Anderson v. Nissan North America, Inc., 2011 WL 4625647 (S.D. Miss. Sept. 30, 2011).

Jones v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., No. 7:10-CV-34-HL (M.D. Ga. June 21, 2011).

Parker v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., No. 3:11-CV-251-CWR-FKB (S.D. Miss. June 3, 2011).

Welborn v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., No. 1:10-CV-48-LG-RHW (S.D. Miss. March 23, 2011).

Tate v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., 2010 WL 3122827 (S.D. Miss. Aug. 4, 2010).

Love v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 2010 WL 114243 (S.D. Miss. Jan. 7, 2010) aff'd, 677 F.3d 258 (5th Cir. 2012).

Mangum v. Sanderson Farms, Inc., No. 3:08-CV-712-HTW-LRA (S.D. Miss. July 30, 2009).

Ray v. Nissan North America, Inc., 2009 WL 1686575 (S.D. Miss. June 16, 2009).

Crown v. Nissan North America, Inc., 634 F. Supp. 2d 688 (S.D. Miss. 2009).

Sullivan v. Tyson Foods, Inc., No. 3:06-CV-402-TSL-JCS (S.D. Miss. July 31, 2007).

Parker v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 2007 WL 2021928 (S.D. Miss. July 9, 2007) aff'd, 278 F. App'x 433 (5th Cir. 2008).

Campbell v. Bd. of Trustees of Quitman Sch. Dist., 2006 WL 2376200 (S.D. Miss. Aug. 15, 2006).

DeCarlo v. Bonus Stores, Inc., 2006 WL 1328890 (S.D. Miss. May 12, 2006) aff'd in relevant part, 289 F. App'x 735 (5th Cir. 2008).

Wade Block & Tile v. Boral Brick, Inc., et al.; No. 1:01-CV-375- WJG (S.D. Miss. June 24, 2003).

Stafford v. True Temper Sports, 1997 WL 88250 (N.D. Miss. Feb. 19, 1997), aff'd 123 F.3d 291 (5th Cir. 1997).

Glasgow v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 901 F. Supp. 1185 (N.D. Miss. 1995) aff'd, 146 F.3d 867 (5th Cir. 1998).

Berry v. Liberty Nat. Life Ins. Co., 879 F. Supp. 44 (S.D. Miss. 1995).

McDaniel v. Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, 877 F. Supp. 321, 323 (S.D. Miss. 1995), aff'd sub nom. McDaniel v. Mississippi Baptist, 74 F.3d 1238 (5th Cir. 1995).

• Mississippi Bar, 1987

• Fellow, The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
• American Employment Law Council, 2009–2024
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America (Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-19, Employment Litigation: Defense)
• Chambers USA-America's Leading Lawyers for Business (Labor & Employment)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Jackson, Mississippi Lawyer of the Year (2027, Labor Law - Management; 2019 and 2017, Litigation - Labor and Employment; 2016, Employment Law - Management)

• 2018 Southern Star – Benchmark Litigation Guide to Leading Labor & Employment Litigators

• 2019 Labor & Employment Star - Benchmark Litigation (Labor & Employment)

• Defense Research Institute, 1997-2008; Joint Monograph Subcommittee Chair (EPLI), 1999; Regional Newsletter Editor
• Mississippi Contributor for Practical Law
• The Mississippi Bar